Lavish Las Vegas: Your sophisticated holiday escape awaits
The glittering lights of Las Vegas offer fun and festivities this holiday season. | By Paul Oswell | November 4, 2022
Visiting Las Vegas any time of year promises a good time. This is especially true during the holiday season, though, when this sparkling desert city throws itself into celebrations with its well-known gusto. Expect even more decorations, family-friendly activities and, of course, some serious fireworks displays. Best of all, the weather this time of year is pleasantly sunny, and the menu of entertainment options remains world-class. Here are our suggestions for making the most of the holidays in Vegas:
Thrilling Thanksgiving: Don your designer best as you sit down to exciting culinary offerings
Cracking Christmas: Carol singers, ice rinks and Santa’s Grotto are all in the mix at Yuletide, with festivities for all ages
Ecstatic New Year’s Eve: The Strip becomes one big party, and entertainment venues pull out all the stops to start the countdown to midnight
November
If you’re planning on traveling for Thanksgiving, then Las Vegas should be top of your list. The scintillating city has a lot going for it at this time of year. Make sure you look your best for every gathering by indulging in some well-deserved retail therapy. The shops along the Strip are open every single day over the holiday weekend, and an upscale succession of renowned fashion houses like Valentino, Gucci and Chanel are a stone’s throw away from Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.
Food is obviously a huge part of all festivities this time of year, and there are Thanksgiving menus waiting to be explored all over the city. Searching for something unique to savor with family and friends? Guests at Conrad Las Vegas can head to FUHU to experience a twist on contemporary Asian cuisine. Crossroads is home to the first plant-inspired, Italian fine-dining restaurant on the Strip. Enthusiasts of healthy feasting can enjoy curated offerings by acclaimed chef Tal Ronnen and executive chef Paul Zlatos such as breaded scallopini and sweet potato biscuits.
If the holiday dining and retail indulgences prove tiring, you can rejuvenate yourself with a personalized treatment in the spa at Resorts World Las Vegas. They offer a Sauna-Meister-led journey with scented steam jets that will ease any tensions and reset your batteries. The spa and fitness center are directly accessible to guests staying at Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts.
December
The neon and glittering light displays of Las Vegas undoubtedly make for a glamorous atmosphere all year round, but December elevates the city into even higher realms of sophistication. The city may not have the traditional winter weather of a holiday card, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty of snow or ice skating rinks to make it a lavish winter wonderland.
Elevate your holiday indulgences with handcrafted artisan confections from award-winning Jean-Marie Auboine Chocolatier. Select from a wide range of signature chocolate boxes, nougats, caramels and premium chocolate bars inspired by the classically trained chefs’ international travels. Bring the kids to Ethel M Chocolates for a sweet treat and the chance to experience their annual family-friendly Holiday Cactus Garden Lights — Nevada's largest botanical cactus garden decked out with over a million lights and holiday decor.
Save time for one of the biggest holiday events in the city, Enchant at Resorts World Las Vegas. The VIP Treatment package ensures you'll have your own personal elf guide, as well as no waiting to enjoy one of the city’s best ice-skating rinks, the world's largest holiday light maze and for travelers with children, the chance to meet Santa.
In search of a special holiday feast to mark the season with? Consider upscale Italian cuisine from Conrad Las Vegas' Brezza, where you can swap out the turkey and ham plates for handmade pasta, fresh seafood and a sensational selection of amari for your after-dinner digestif.
January
To be fair, we’re not quite in January yet — there’s still a special countdown to enjoy, after all. However, as you might imagine, New Year’s Eve in Vegas makes for a memorable experience. This is a city with a near-constant celebratory atmosphere, and it’s even more spectacular as each year comes to an end. The Strip closes to traffic, meaning that it becomes one giant, connected party. At midnight, the hotels and casinos present a choreographed fireworks display that competes with any across the world.
If you’re downtown as the countdown begins, prepare to toast the new year under the dazzling lighted canopy of the Fremont Street Experience. This time of year in Las Vegas means that many of the entertainment venues bring out the most famous musicians to celebrate.
If you’re hoping to ring in the New Year with some of the best views in the city, head straight for Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas’ 23rd-floor SkyBar. You can take in center-Strip views of the fireworks, while enjoying original cocktails and tasting experiences. If you need some restorative time the next day, then the sumptuous Waldorf Astoria Spa has a full menu of massage therapies and beauty treatments that will have you feeling your best to kick off the new year.
There’s no denying it, the holiday season in Las Vegas is as spectacular as you imagine it to be. You'll make cherished memories and leave completely revitalized with a heartwarming holiday spirit that lasts the new year and beyond.
Paul Oswell is a British award-winning journalist and published travel author based in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. His books include Bucket List North America and The Great American Road Trip, as well as New Orleans' Historic Hotels. He has also been an editor of and contributor to several guide books/editions published by Dorling Kindersley (owned by Penguin), including New Orleans, Florida, Orlando, Los Angeles, California and The United States. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure (both of which he has written multiple online travel guides for) and The Guardian, as well as dozens of international newspaper and magazine titles, and inflight magazines for major airlines.
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